Information processing device and information processing method to control display of image based on inclination information

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus, method and computer program product cooperate to provide a device that changes the way content is displayed depending on an inclination angle of the device. The device includes an inclination acquisition device that acquires inclination information of a display housing that houses a display with a displayed image thereon. A first controller causes a first change to the displayed image according to the inclination information. A second controller causes a second change to the displayed image when a predetermined condition is met with respect to the inclination information. By including subcomponents that cooperate in this manner, the device allows a user to perceive a displayed image at various viewing angles and easily recognize whether certain displayed features are able to be actuated when the device is positioned in a certain inclination angle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/295,732, filed Nov. 14, 2011, which claims thebenefit of priority from prior Japanese Priority Patent Application JP2010-263408 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Nov. 26, 2010. Each ofthe above-referenced applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a computer program product, andparticularly to an information processing device, an informationprocessing method, and a computer program product that brings a displaychange to a displayed image.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the arithmetic capability and the communication speedof information processing devices have been rapidly enhanced. However,in a relatively small-sized information processing device such as aportable terminal, for example, since the size of a display unit whichdisplays processing results is limited, there are cases where thequantity of information to be displayed is restricted and highperformance as described above is not fully utilized.

Thus, a technique for making effective use of a display unit of aninformation processing device has been developed. For example, there isa technique in which a touch panel is provided in the display unit tosecure operability and expand the display unit. JP-A-2010-109552 andJP-A-2009-009252 disclose a technique in which pushing conditions of atouch panel are used as operation inputs.

In addition, there is a technique in which changes in the state of ahousing of an information processing device are used as operationinputs, and various operation inputs are realized without reducing thesize of a display unit. JP-A-2004-334642 discloses a technique in whichapplication of shaking to a housing is used as an operation input.JP-A-2005-245619 discloses a technique in which inclination of a housingis used as an operation input.

SUMMARY

However, as recognized by the present inventors there is a problem inthat unintended operation inputs by a user occur when there are variousoperation input methods as described in JP-A-2010-109552,JP-A-2009-009252, JP-A-2004-334642, and JP-A-2005-245619. For example,in an information processing device in which inclination causes acertain operation, there is a case where inclination is acquired as anoperation input even with the user's unintended slight inclination ofthe housing. For this problem, not acquiring slight inclination of ahousing as an operation input was considered. In such a case, however,for example, if nothing happens even though the housing of aninformation processing device is inclined, it is problematic in thatinformation regarding whether inclination of a housing is not set as anoperation input or just the response of a sensor detecting inclinationis poor is not delivered to the user.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a program which are novel andimproved and can perform suppression control for operation inputs andprovide a user with information on the suppression control.

According to an exemplary information processing apparatus embodiment,the apparatus includes

an inclination acquisition device that acquires inclination informationof a display housing that houses a display with a displayed imagethereon;

a first controller that causes a first change to the displayed imageaccording to the inclination information; and

a second controller that causes a second change to the displayed imagewhen a predetermined condition is met with respect to the inclinationinformation.

One aspect of this embodiment is that it may further include

a processing circuit that includes at least one of the inclinationacquisition device, the first controller and the second controller.

According to another aspect the processing circuit responds to adetected shaking of the display housing by performing a zero pointadjustment.

According to another aspect the predetermined condition is met when theinclination information exceeds a predetermined threshold.

According to another aspect the embodiment may further include thedisplay, the display being a touchpanel, wherein

the predetermined condition is met when an operation on the touchpanelis not detected.

According to another aspect the first change to the displayed image is amovement of at least one of a shadow of a displayed object, a backgroundportion of the displayed object, and reflected light.

According to another aspect when an amount of inclination of the displayhousing is greater than zero but less than a predetermined amount, thedisplayed object does not move on the display despite the movement ofthe at least one of the shadow of the displayed object, the backgroundportion of the displayed object, and the reflected light.

According to another aspect when an amount of inclination of the displayhousing is greater than a predetermined amount, the displayed objectmoves on the display along with the movement of the at least one of ashadow of the displayed object, the background portion of the displayedobject, and the reflected light.

According to another aspect when the amount of inclination of thedisplay housing is greater than the predetermined amount, other objectsthat were previously hidden are displayed on the display.

According to another aspect the second change to the displayed image isa movement of a displayed object, the displayed object beinguser-selectable to trigger a processing operation.

According to an exemplary information processing method embodiment, themethod includes

acquiring from an inclination acquisition device inclination informationof a display housing that houses a display with a displayed imagethereon;

making a first change to the displayed image according to theinclination information; and

making a second change to the displayed image when a predeterminedcondition is met with respect to the inclination information.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, the making a first changeand the making a second change are made with a processing circuit.

According to another aspect the embodiment includes responding to adetected shaking of the display housing by performing a zero pointadjustment.

According to another aspect the predetermined condition is met when theinclination information exceeds a predetermined threshold.

According to another aspect the making the first change to the displayedimage includes moving on the display at least one of a shadow of adisplayed object, a background portion of the displayed object, andreflected light.

According to another aspect when an amount of inclination of the displayhousing is greater than zero but less than a predetermined amount, notmoving the displayed object on the display while moving the at least oneof the shadow of the displayed object, the background portion of thedisplayed object, and the reflected light.

According to another aspect when an amount of inclination of the displayhousing is greater than a predetermined amount, moving the displayedobject on the display along while also moving the at least one of theshadow of the displayed object, the background portion of the displayedobject, and the reflected light.

According to another aspect when the amount of inclination of thedisplay housing is greater than the predetermined amount, displayingother objects that were previously hidden on the display.

According to another aspect the second change to the displayed image isa movement of a displayed object, the displayed object beinguser-selectable to trigger a processing operation.

According to an exemplary non-transitory computer readable storagedevice embodiment, the device includes instructions stored thereon thatwhen executed by a processing circuit perform an information processingmethod that includes

acquiring from an inclination acquisition device inclination informationof a display housing that houses a display with a displayed imagethereon;

making a first change to the displayed image according to theinclination information; and

making a second change to the displayed image when a predeterminedcondition is met with respect to the inclination information.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above,it is possible to provide an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a program which can performsuppression control for operation inputs and provide a user withinformation on the suppression control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a portable terminalaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display change in theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process executed in the portableterminal according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of a display change in theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing still another example of a display change inthe portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display change in a portableterminal according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process executed in the portableterminal according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process executed in a portable terminalaccording to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display change in aportable terminal according to a fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of suppression of a displaychange in each embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. Repetitivedescription will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals toconstituent elements that have substantially the same functionalconfiguration in the present specification and the drawings.

Furthermore, description will be provided in the following order.

1. First Embodiment

2. Second Embodiment

3. Third Embodiment

4. Fourth Embodiment

5. Fifth Embodiment

6. Supplement

1. First Embodiment

First, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

(Configuration of Portable Terminal)

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a portable terminal 100according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The portableterminal 100 is an example of an information processing device.Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal 100 includes a housing 110,and the housing 110 is provided with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)120. The LCD 120 is an example of a display unit and displays images asthe output of the portable terminal 100. Furthermore, the display unitis not limited to the LCD 120, and an arbitrary display device such asan organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel may be used. The LCD 120 maybe provided with a touch panel 130. The touch panel 130 senses a user'scontact with the LCD 120. When an operation unit such as a button isseparately provided, the touch panel 130 may not necessarily beprovided. The portable terminal 100 can have various functions of, forexample, voice calling, network communication, music and videoreproduction, capturing moving and still images, and the like. Thehousing 110 may be provided with other devices to realize thesefunctions, for example, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, input andoutput terminals, an antenna, or the like, in addition to the LCD 120and the touch panel 130.

Subsequently, an example of an image displayed on the LCD 120 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1. The LCD 120 displays an icon 121accompanied by an icon shadow 122. On the back side of the icon 121 andthe icon shadow 122, a background 123 is displayed. The icon 121 is anexample of an object included in the displayed image. The icon 121 canbe an operational component which is operated by a user through, forexample, the touch panel 130. In this case, the user can give anoperation instruction for realizing a predetermined function in theportable terminal 100 by contacting the area where the icon 121 of theLCD 120 is displayed through the touch panel 130. In addition, the icon121 may be an image indicating content that can be used by the portableterminal 100. Furthermore, the object is not limited to the icon 121,and may be, for example, an image of video content. The icon shadow 122is displayed as a visual effect to emphasize the stereoscopic effectwhen, for example, the icon 121 is to be three-dimensionally displayed.The background 123 is displayed as the background of the icon 121 andthe icon shadow 122. For example, when the icon 121 is an operationalcomponent that is operated by a user through the touch panel 130, anoperation instruction is not given to the portable terminal 100 even ifthe user contacts the area where the background 123 of the LCD 120 isdisplayed through the touch panel 130.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of theportable terminal 100 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal 100 includes theLCD 120, the touch panel 130, an acceleration sensor 140, a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 150, a storage unit 160, and a communication unit 170.In addition, the CPU 150 realizes functions of an inclinationacquisition unit 151, a contact acquisition unit 152, a shakingacquisition unit 153, a display control unit 154, and a suppressioncontrol unit 155.

Since each of the functions of the LCD 120 and the touch panel 130 hasbeen described before referring to FIG. 1, detailed description thereofwill be omitted, but herein, description will be provided in relation toother function configurations. A display image is provided to the LCD120 by the CPU 150. The touch panel 130 provides the CPU 150 with thepresence of user contact with the LCD 120, and information of a positionwhere the user contact on the LCD 120.

The acceleration sensor 140 is a sensor that senses the accelerationapplied to the housing 110 of the portable terminal 100. The informationof acceleration that the acceleration sensor 140 senses is provided tothe CPU 150. With a change in acceleration, it is possible to detect achange in the state of the housing 110, for example, inclination,shaking, and the like of the housing 110. Furthermore, the accelerationsensor 140 can be an acceleration sensor of any type, for example, atwo-axis acceleration sensor, a three-axis acceleration sensor, or thelike, according to the change type of the state of the housing 110necessary for a process in the CPU 150. In addition, other sensors thatcan detect a change in the state of the housing 110 as described abovemay be used instead of the acceleration sensor 140.

The CPU 150 controls the operation of each part of the portable terminal100. The CPU 150 is a processor that executes programs stored in thestorage unit 160, and realizes functions of the inclination acquisitionunit 151, the contact acquisition unit 152, the shaking acquisition unit153, the display control unit 154, and the suppression control unit 155by executing the programs. In addition to these functions, the CPU 150realizes various functions that the portable terminal 100 can have, forexample, voice calling, network communication, music and videoreproduction, capturing moving and still images, and the like. In orderto realize these functions, the CPU 150 acquires information from thetouch panel 130 and the acceleration sensor 140, provides images to theLCD 120, and exchanges data with the storage unit 160 and thecommunication unit 170. In addition, the CPU 150 may acquire or provideinformation from or with other devices that the portable terminal 100has, in order to realize the functions.

Hereinbelow, functions of the inclination acquisition unit 151, thecontact acquisition unit 152, the shaking acquisition unit 153, thedisplay control unit 154, and the suppression control unit 155 realizedby the CPU 150 will be described. The functions can be realized by theCPU 150 executing the programs stored in the storage 160 as describedabove, but it is not limited thereto, and all or some of the functionsmay be realized by a dedicated circuit configuration provided separatelyfrom, for example, the CPU 150.

The inclination acquisition unit 151 acquires inclination of the housing110 based on information of acceleration of the housing 110 of theportable terminal 100 provided from the acceleration sensor 140.Specifically, the inclination acquisition unit 151 may calculate thedirection and angle of the inclination of the housing 110 based on thedirection and magnitude of the acceleration of the housing 110. Theinclination acquisition unit 151 may provide the calculated directionand angle of the inclination of the housing 110 to the display controlunit 154 and the suppression control unit 155.

The contact acquisition unit 152 acquires information of the presence ofuser contact with the LCD 120 and the position where the user contactsthe LCD 120, which is provided from the touch panel 130. For example,the contact acquisition unit 152 may acquire the contact with an areawhere the icon 121 on the LCD 120 is displayed as a pressing operationto the icon 121. In addition, the contact acquisition unit 152 mayacquire the contact as a long-pressing operation to the icon 121 whenthe contact with the area where the icon 121 on the LCD 120 is displayedis continued over a predetermined time period. Furthermore, the contactacquisition unit 152 may acquire the contact as an operation of amovement (also referred to as a flicking operation) when the contactposition is moved in the state where the contact is continued on the LCD121. The contact acquisition unit acquires a pressing operation, along-pressing operation, or a movement operation for the icon 121, andmay provide the operation to the display control unit 154 and thesuppression control unit 155.

The shaking acquisition unit 153 acquires the shaking of the housing 110based on the information of the acceleration of the housing 110 of theportable terminal 100 provided from the acceleration sensor 140.Specifically, the shaking acquisition unit 153 may acquire that therewas the shaking of the housing 110 based on a change in the accelerationof the housing 110 within a predetermined time. The shaking acquisitionunit 153 acquires that there was the shaking of the housing 110, and mayprovide the information to the display control unit 154 and thesuppression control unit 155. Optionally, when the shaking acquisitionunit 153 detects shaking of the housing, a zero point adjustment is madeto the inclination angle of the housing (e.g., reset or recalibrate theangle at which the housing is deemed to not be inclined).

The display control unit 154 provides the image to the LCD 120. Inaddition, the display control unit 154 makes a display change in theicon 121, the icon shadow 122, or the background 123 included in thedisplay image. Herein, the display control unit 154 may make the displaychange in a part or all of the inclination of the housing 110 acquiredby the inclination acquisition unit 151, various contact operationsacquired by the contact acquisition unit 152, and the shaking of thehousing 110 acquired by the shaking acquisition unit 153. The displaychange includes at least a first display change and a second displaychange according to the inclination of the housing 100 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151. Furthermore, there is a case where thedisplay control unit 154 suppresses the first display change with theaction of the suppression control unit 155. Specifically what kind ofdisplay change the first and the second display changes are and whatkind of a case the first and the second display changes are made will bedescribed later.

The suppression control unit 155 suppresses the first display changethat the display control unit 154 makes to the icon 121, the icon shadow122, or the background 123 displayed on the LCD 120. The suppressioncontrol unit 155 may suppress the first display change based on a partor all of the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclinationacquisition unit 151, various contact operations acquired by the contactacquisition unit 152, and the shaking of the housing 110 acquired by theshaking acquisition unit 153. Specifically what kind of a case thesuppression control unit 155 restricts the first display change will bedescribed later.

The storage unit 160 temporarily or permanently stores various datarelating to the process of the portable terminal 100. The storage unit160 may be, for example, a semiconductor memory such as a flash ROM(Read Only Memory) or a DRAM, an optical disc such as a BD (Blu-rayDisc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a CD (Compact Disc), a harddisk, or the like. The storage unit 160 may be a storage device built inthe portable terminal 100 or a removable medium such as a memory cardthat can be loaded or unloaded on the portable terminal 100. Inaddition, the storage unit 160 may include a plurality of types ofstorage devices or a removable medium. The storage unit 160 can storeprograms executed by the CPU 150 in order to realize functions of theinclination acquisition unit 151, the contact acquisition unit 152, theshaking acquisition unit 153, the display control unit 154, and thesuppression control unit 155, and other various functions. The programsmay be stored in the storage unit 160 in advance, and may be programsprovided by being stored in the removable medium or programs downloadedfrom a network through the communication unit 170 which are temporarilystored in the storage unit 160. Furthermore, the storage unit 160 cantemporarily store information exchanged by the CPU 150 with the LCD 120,the touch panel 130, the acceleration sensor 140 and the communicationunit 170, and information generated by the CPU 150 in the course of aprocess.

The communication unit 170 is a communication interface including acommunication device for connecting to a network. The communication unit170 can be a port or a communication card for, for example, a USB(Universal Serial Bus), an IEEE 1394, an SCSI (Small Computer SystemInterface), an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), a LAN (LocalArea Network), a Bluetooth (registered trademark), a WUSB (WirelessUSB), or the like. The communication unit 170 is connected to a networksuch as the Internet, a household LAN, infrared communication, radiowave communication, satellite communication or the like, and exchangesvarious data regarding the process of the portable terminal 100. Thecommunication unit 170 may download a program executed by the CPU 150for realizing the functions of the inclination acquisition unit 151, thecontact acquisition unit 152, the shaking acquisition unit 153, thedisplay control unit 154, and the suppression control unit 155, andother various functions from a network and store the program in thestorage unit 160.

(Operation of Portable Terminal)

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of the portableterminal 100 according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 3 shows changes in display positions of the icon 121and the icon shadow 122 when the housing 110 of the portable terminal100 is not inclined, and when the angle of inclination is an angle a1,and when the angle of further inclination is an angle a2 in the casewhere the housing is inclined. Furthermore, the angle a2 is an anglegreater than the angle a1.

When the housing 110 is not inclined, each icon 121 is arrayed at aposition with substantially the same intervals in the upper, lower,right and left sides as shown in the drawing. The display position ofthe icon shadow 122 is a position displaced in the direction toward theperiphery from the center of the display unit 120 for each icon 121.

When the housing 110 is inclined and the angle of the inclination is theangle a1, the display position of the icon 121 does not move while beingleft at the display position in the state where the housing 110 is notinclined. On the other hand, the display position of the icon shadow 122moves to the right side of the display unit 120, and is at a positiondisplaced in the right side of each icon 121. The movement of thedisplay position of the icon shadow 122 may be a movement according tothe inclination of the housing 110. Furthermore, the display position ofthe icon 121 may move slightly to the right side of the display unit120, not staying still, as described below.

When the housing 110 is further inclined to form the angle a2 as theangle of the inclination, the display position of the icon 121 moves tothe right side of the display unit 120. On the other hand, the displayposition of the icon shadow 122 further moves to the right side of thedisplay unit 120 from the state where the housing 110 is inclined by theangle a1. The movement of both display positions of the icon 121 and theicon shadow 122 as above can be movements corresponding to the movementof the housing 110.

At this time, a process responding to the inclination of the housing 110may be further executed. The process may be a process in which a newicon 121 appears on the display unit 120, the icon 121 that has alreadybeen displayed is erased from the display unit 120, or the size of thedisplayed icon 121 changes. In addition, the process may not necessarilyrelate to a display change, and can be various kinds of processes thatthe portable terminal 100 can execute.

With the operation of the portable terminal 100 as described above, themovements of the icon 121 and the icon shadow 122 displayed on thedisplay unit 120 when the housing 110 is gradually inclined can beobserved by the user in such a way that, for example, the icon shadow122 starts to move to the right side of the display unit 120 first, andthe icon 121 starts to move to the right side later.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the icon 121 and the icon shadow 122 inthe example shown in the drawing is just an example. The displayposition of the icon shadow 122 when the housing 110 is not inclined isnot limited to the above example, and may be, for example, a positiondisplaced to a different direction from the icon 121. In addition, asthe display position of the icon shadow 122 when the housing 110 whichis not inclined overlaps the icon 121, the icon shadow 122 after thehousing 110 starts inclining may be displayed to be observed by theuser.

In addition, in the above example, both display positions of the icon121 and the icon shadow 122 move to the right side of the display unit120 so as to rebound on the inclination of the housing 110, but thedirection in which the display positions of the icon 121 and the iconshadow 122 move is not limited to the example. The display positions ofthe icon 121 and the icon shadow 122 may move, for example, to the leftside of the display unit 120 as if the positions slide down by theinclination of the housing 110. Furthermore, it is needless to say thatthe direction of the display positions of the icon 121 and the iconshadow 122 is determined according to the direction in which the housing110 is inclined.

In the portable terminal 100 that is operated as above, when the angleof inclination of the housing 110 is in the range including the anglea1, the “movement of the display position of the icon 121” that is thefirst display change that the display control unit 154 gives to thedisplay image in the embodiment is suppressed by the suppression controlunit 155. In addition, while the movement of the display position of theicon 121 is suppressed as such, “movement of the display position of theicon shadow 122” that is the second display change in the embodiment isexecuted by the display control unit 154.

(Process in Portable Terminal)

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process in the portable terminal 100according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4shows a process of the portable terminal 100 according to the embodimentfor executing a display change and a process according to theinclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisitionunit 151.

First, in Step S101, the display control unit 154 determines whether ornot the inclination of the housing 110 is acquired by the inclinationacquisition unit 151. When the inclination of the housing 110 isacquired here, the process advances to Step S103. On the other hand,when the inclination of the housing 110 is not acquired, the processreturns to the start.

In Step S103, the display control unit 154 causes the display positionof the icon shadow 122 displayed on the display unit 120 to moveaccording to the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151. Furthermore, as described above, themovement of the display position of the icon shadow 122 is the seconddisplay change that the display control unit 154 brings about to thedisplay image.

Successively in Step S105, the suppression control unit 155 determineswhether or not the angle of the inclination of the housing 110 acquiredby the inclination acquisition unit 151 is equal to or smaller than afirst threshold value. When the angle of the inclination of the housing110 is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value here, thesuppression control unit 155 ends the series of process. On the otherhand, when the angle of the inclination of the housing 110 exceeds thefirst threshold value, the process advances to Step S107. Furthermore,the first threshold value is a predetermined threshold value set for theinclination of the housing 110. In the example shown in FIG. 3, forexample, the first threshold value is a value greater than the angle a1and equal to or smaller than the angle a2.

In Step S107, the display control unit 154 causes the display positionof the icon 121 displayed on the display unit 120 to move according tothe inclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclinationacquisition unit 151. Furthermore, as described above, the movement ofthe display position of the icon 121 is the first display change thatthe display control unit 154 brings about to the display image.

Successively in Step S109, the CPU 150 determines whether or not aprocess corresponding to the inclination of the housing 110 acquired bythe inclination acquisition unit 151 is set. When a processcorresponding to the inclination is set here, the process advances toStep S111. On the other hand, when a process corresponding to theinclination is not set, the process returns to the start.

In Step S111, the CPU 150 executes the process corresponding to theinclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisitionunit 151. The process is not necessarily limited to the process ofdisplay changes by the display control unit 154, and may be another typeof process that the portable terminal 100 can execute. A process thatthe display control unit 154 can execute here can be a process in which,for example, a new icon 121 appears on the display unit 120, an icon 121that has already been displayed is erased from the display unit 120, thesize of a displayed icon 121 changes, or the like. In addition, asanother process that the portable terminal 100 can execute, there may bea process relating to, for example, voice calling, networkcommunications, music and video reproduction, capturing moving or stillimages, or the like.

In the above-described process of the portable terminal 100, when theangle of the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclinationacquisition unit 151 is equal to or smaller than the first thresholdvalue, the process ends by the suppression control unit 155.Accordingly, the “movement of the display position of the icon 121” thatis the first display change that the display control unit 154 bringsabout to the display screen is not executed in that case. In otherwords, when the angle of the inclination of the housing 110 is equal toor smaller than the first threshold value, the “movement of the displayposition of the icon 121” that is the first display change issuppressed.

On the other hand, in the above-described process of the portableterminal 100, even when the angle of the inclination of the housing 110acquired by the inclination acquisition unit 151 is equal to or smallerthan the first threshold value, the “movement of the display position ofthe icon shadow 122” that is the second display change that the displaycontrol unit 154 brings about to the display screen is executed. Inother words, while the “movement of the display position of the icon121” that is the first display change is suppressed, the “movement ofthe display position of the icon shadow 122” that is the second displaychange is executed.

(Regarding Suppression of Display Change)

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the definition of “suppression of thefirst display change” in the embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the inclinationangle a of the housing 110, the vertical axis represents the quantity ofa display change b, and an example of a function f1 showing therelationship between the inclination angle a and the quantity of adisplay change b in the first display change and of a function f2showing the relationship between the inclination angle a and thequantity of a display change b in the second display change is shown. Inthe inclination angle a of the housing, two threshold values of ath1 andath2 each corresponding to two definitions of “suppression of the firstdisplay change” are shown.

In the example shown in the drawing, when the inclination angle a isequal to or smaller than the threshold value ath1, the value of thequantity of a display change b of the function f1 is substantially 0. Ina first definition, a state where the value of the quantity of a displaychange b of the function f1 is substantially 0 is defined as “a statewhere the first display change is suppressed”. In this case, the“threshold value” is the threshold value ath1. As a first example of thedisplay control in the first definition, the suppression control unit155 of the portable terminal 100 may suppress the first display changeby nullifying the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151 when the inclination angle a is equalto or smaller than the threshold value ath1. In addition, as a secondexample, the first display change may be suppressed in a way that thedisplay control unit 154 calculates the quantity of a display change bwith an arithmetic operation of b=c tan a for the first display changefrom the inclination angle a of the housing 110 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151 and the suppression control unit 155sets a value of coefficient c so that the quantity of a display change bbecomes substantially 0 when the inclination angle a is equal to orsmaller than the threshold value ath1.

On the other hand, in the example shown in the drawing, when theinclination angle a is equal to or smaller than threshold value ath2, avalue of the quantity of a display change b of the function f1 is lowerthan a value of the quantity of a display change b of the function f2.In the second definition, the state where a value of the quantity of adisplay change b of the function f1 is lower than a value of thequantity of a display change b of the function f2 is defined as a “statewhere the first display change is suppressed”. In this case, theabove-described “threshold value” is the threshold value ath2. As anexample of display control in the second definition, the first displaychange may be suppressed in a way that the display control unit 154calculates the quantity of a display change b with arithmetic operationsof b=c tan a for the first display change and b=da for the seconddisplay change from the inclination angle a of the housing 110 acquiredby the inclination acquisition unit 151 and the suppression control unit155 sets values of coefficients c and d so that a value of the quantityof a display change b of the function f1 is lower than a value of thequantity of a display change b of the function f2 when the inclinationangle a is equal to or smaller than the threshold value ath2.

Herein, the operation of the portable terminal 100 described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4 above is based on the first definition. Asdescribed above, however, the “suppression of the first display change”of the present specification includes at least two definitions of thefirst and the second ones. For that reason, the operation of theportable terminal 100 as shown in FIG. 3 may be realized based on thesecond definition. In this case, the portable terminal 100 is in thestate where the housing 110 is inclined by the angle a1, and the displayposition of the icon 121 may move to the slightly right side of thedisplay unit 120 instead of not moving while being in the displayposition in the case where the housing 110 is not inclined.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the display control unit 154 may applyanother control to the quantity of a display change b of the firstdisplay change by setting the quantity of a display change b to aconstant value when the inclination angle a exceeds a predeterminedvalue. When the inclination angle a exceeds the threshold value ath1 orthe threshold value ath2 and continues to increase, the display controlunit 154 may control such that a value of the quantity of a displaychange b of the function f1 exceeds a value of the quantity of a displaychange b of the function f2 first and then a value of the quantity of adisplay change b of the function f2 exceeds a value of the quantity of adisplay change b of the function f1. In addition, in the same case, avalue of the quantity of a display change b of the function f1 and avalue of the quantity of a display change b of the function f2 may becontrolled to be substantially the same value.

Modified Example 1

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the portableterminal 100 according to a modified example of the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 6 shows a change in the display position ofa glossy portion 124 when the state of portable terminal 100 changesfrom the state where the housing 110 is not inclined to the state wherethe housing 110 is inclined by the angle a1. Furthermore, as describedabove, the angle a1 is an angle smaller than the first threshold valueat which the movement of the display position of the icon 121 issuppressed for the inclination of the housing 110.

In the modified example, the icon 121 is displayed as an object in aflat spherical shape of which the surface bulges. The glossy portion 124of the icon is displayed as an area on the surface of the icon 121 onwhich light is reflected to change the color in order to, for example,express a stereoscopic effect of the icon 121.

When the housing 110 is inclined and the angle of the inclination is theangle a1, the display position of the icon 121 does not move while beingin the display position in the state where the housing 110 is notinclined. On the other hand, the display position of the glossy portion124 of the icon moves on the surface of the icon 121 clockwise from thedisplay position in the state where the housing 110 is not inclined andis in a position where the display position of the glossy portion 124moves to the slightly right side of the display unit 120. In themodified example, the second display change by the display control unit154 is the movement of the display position of the glossy portion 124 ofthe icon. The movement of the display position of the glossy portion 124of the icon may be a movement according to the inclination of thehousing 110. Furthermore, as described above, the display position ofthe icon 121 does not stay still, but may move to the slightly rightside of the display unit 120.

Although not shown in the drawing, when the housing 110 is furtherinclined and the angle of the inclination is the angle a2, the movementof the display position of the icon 121 and the further movement of theglossy portion 124 of an icon are the same as in the operation exampleof the present embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3.

Modified Example 2

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of theportable terminal 100 according to the modified example of the firstembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 shows a change in thedisplay of the background 123 when the state of the portable terminal100 changes from the state where the housing 110 is not inclined and tothe state where the housing 110 is inclined by the angle a1.Furthermore, as described above, the angle a1 is an angle smaller thanthe first threshold value at which the movement of the display positionof the icon 121 is suppressed for the inclination of the housing 110.

In the modified example, the background 123 has a pattern of a radialshape and a concentric shape as shown in the drawing. The pattern can bestereoscopically drawn as an inner face of a virtual hemisphere face.Furthermore, the pattern is an example for making a change in thedisplay of the background 123 in the modified example easily understood.The pattern of the background 123 may be any pattern with which a changein the display as in the modified example can be recognized.

When the housing 110 is inclined and the angle of the inclination is theangle a1, the display position of the icon 121 does not move while beingin the display position in the state where the housing 110 is notinclined. On the other hand, the background 123 changes so that thevirtual hemisphere face rotates from the display of the state where thehousing 110 is not inclined, and the displayed pattern turns into adifferent pattern. In the modified example, the second display change bythe display control unit 154 is a change in the display of thebackground 123. The change of the display of the background 123 may bemovement according to the inclination of the housing 110. Furthermore,as described above, the display position of the icon 121 does not standstill, but may move to the slightly right side of the display unit 120.

Although not shown in the drawing, when the housing is further inclinedand the angle of the inclination is the angle a2, a movement of thedisplay position of the icon 121 and a further change in the display ofthe background 123 are the same as in the operation example of theembodiment described with reference to FIG. 3.

(Summary of First Embodiment)

In the first embodiment of the present disclosure described above, thereis provided the portable terminal 100 including the inclinationacquisition unit 151 which acquires inclination of the housing 110provided with the LCD 120 on which an image is displayed, the displaycontrol unit 154 which gives the first and the second display changes tothe displayed image according to the acquired inclination of the housing110, and the suppression control unit 155 which suppresses the firstdisplay change.

As described above, in the embodiment, the first display change is themovement of the display position of the icon 121 that is an objectincluded in the images displayed on the LCD 120. The second displaychange is the movement of the display position of the icon shadow 122.As described as the modified examples, the second display change may bethe movement of the display position of the glossy portion 124 of theicon and a change in the background 123 of the image displayed on theLCD 120. Furthermore, the second display change may be a change indisplay in which the above changes are combined.

According to the configuration, when it is desired that the displayposition of the icon 121 does not move even though the housing 110 ofthe portable terminal 100 is inclined, for example, when the angle ofthe inclination of the housing 110 is equal to or smaller than apredetermined threshold value, the movement of the display position oficon 121 by the inclination of the housing 110 is suppressed. For thisreason, it is possible to prevent a change in the display position ofthe icon 121 that the user does not want. On the other hand, while themovement of the display position of the icon 121 is suppressed, thedisplay position of the icon shadow 122 moves. With the movement of thedisplay position of the icon shadow 122 that is the second displaychange, the user can be made aware that the display position of the icon121 can be moved by the inclination of the housing 110. In other words,when there is no movement of the icon 121 even though the housing 110 isinclined, the user can be made aware that this is not because theportable terminal 100 is not responding to the inclination of thehousing 110, but the movement of the icon 121 is suppressed due to apredetermined condition, for example, a condition that the angle of theinclination of the housing 110 is equal to or smaller than apredetermined threshold value.

In the embodiment, when the inclination of the housing 110 acquired bythe inclination acquisition unit 151 is equal to or smaller than thefirst threshold value, the movement of the display position of the icon121 may be suppressed. With the configuration, it is possible to hinderthe movement of the icon 121 by a trivial change in the user's posturewhen the user holds the portable terminal 100, in opposition to theuser's intention.

In addition, in the embodiment, the movement of the display position ofthe icon shadow 122 that is the second display change may be a displaychange according to the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151. With the configuration, it is possibleto give an intuitive hint to the user that the display position of theicon 121 can be moved by the inclination of the housing 110.

2. Second Embodiment

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Furthermore, since the configuration of the portable terminal100 is substantially the same in the second and the first embodiment,detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Operation of Portable Terminal)

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation example of the portableterminal 100 according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 8 shows changes of the display position of the icon 121when the housing 110 of the portable terminal 100 is not inclined, whenthe angle of the inclination is an angle a when the housing 110 isinclined, and when a predetermined time passes after the angle of theinclination is the angle a.

When the housing 110 is not inclined, each icon 121 is arrayed at aposition with substantially the same intervals in the upper, lower,right and left sides as shown in the drawing. The display position ofthe icon shadow 122 is a position displaced in the direction toward theperiphery from the center of the display unit 120 for each icon 121.

When the housing 110 is inclined and the angle of the inclination is theangle a, the display position of the icon 121 first moves to the rightside of the display unit 120 from the display position of the statewhere the housing 110 is not inclined. Furthermore, in this case, theicon shadow 122 may move to the right side of the display unit 120 to bedisplayed at a position displaced to the right side of each icon 121.

When a predetermined time passes after the angle of the inclination ofthe housing 110 is the angle a, the display position of the icon 121returns to the display position of the state where the housing 110 isnot inclined again from the position in which the display position ofthe icon 121 moved at the first. Furthermore, in this case, the iconshadow 122 may be continuously displayed at a position displaced to theright side of each icon 121.

The movement of the icon 121 displayed on the display unit 120 when apredetermined time passes in the state where the housing 110 is inclinedby the operation of the portable terminal 100 as above is observed bythe user as a movement that the icon 121 first moves in the direction inwhich the icon 121 is assumed to move when, for example, the housing 110is inclined, and then returns to the original position.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the icon 121 in the example shown in thedrawing is just an example. In addition, in the above example, alldisplay positions of the icon 121 move to the right side of the displayunit 120 so as to rebound on the inclination of the housing 110, but thedirection in which the display positions of the icon 121 moves is notlimited thereto. For example, the display position of the icon 121 maymove to the left side of the display unit 120 when there is the sameinclination of the housing 110 as in the example shown in the drawing.Furthermore, it is needless to say that the direction in which thedisplay position of the icon 121 moves is determined according to thedirection in which the housing 110 is inclined.

In the portable terminal 100 that operates as above, the “movement ofthe display position of the icon 121” that is the first display changethat the display control unit 154 brings about to the display image inthe embodiment is suppressed by the suppression control unit 155 due toa predetermined condition. In addition, while the movement of thedisplay position of the icon 121 is suppressed as above, “the displayposition of the icon 121 moves first and returns” that is the seconddisplay change in the embodiment is executed by the display control unit154.

Herein, the predetermined condition with which the suppression controlunit 155 suppresses the “movement of the display position of the icon121” that is the first display change may be, for example, acquisitionof a user's contact with the display unit 120 by the contact acquisitionunit 152. In addition, the predetermined condition may be that an anglea of the inclination of the housing 100 is equal to or smaller than apredetermined threshold value. In addition, the predetermined conditionmay be setting of the portable terminal 100 so that a display change byinclination is nullified.

(Process in Portable Terminal)

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in the portable terminal 100according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9shows a process of the portable terminal 100 according to the embodimentfor executing a display change and a process according to theinclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisitionunit 151. In the example shown in the drawing, a predetermined conditionwith which the suppression control unit 155 suppresses a movement of thedisplay position of the icon 121 is acquisition of a user's contact withthe display unit 120 by the contact acquisition unit 152.

First, in Step S201, the display control unit 154 determines whether ornot the inclination of the housing 110 is acquired by the inclinationacquisition unit 151. When the inclination of the housing 110 isacquired here, the process advances to Step S203. On the other hand,when the inclination of the housing 110 is not acquired, the processreturns to the start.

In Step S203, the suppression control unit 155 determines whether or nota user's contact with the display unit 120 is acquired by the contactacquisition unit 152. When the user's contact with the display unit 120is acquired here, the process advances to Step S205. On the other hand,when the user's contact with the display unit 120 is not acquired, theprocess advances to Step S107.

In Step S205, the display control unit 154 causes the display positionof the icon 121 to move first and to return. Furthermore, as describedabove, that the display position of the icon 121 moves first and returnsis the second display change that the display control unit 154 bringsabout to the display image.

Furthermore, since the process of Steps S107 to S111 is the same as thatin the first embodiment described above referring to the same referencenumerals in FIG. 4 detailed description thereof is omitted.

When the user's contact with the display unit 120 is acquired by thecontact acquisition unit 152 in the above process of the portableterminal 100, the same second display change of “the display position ofthe icon 121 is caused to move first and return” is executed instead ofexecuting the first display change of the “movement of the displayposition of the icon 121” that the display control unit 154 brings aboutto the display screen. In other words, when the user's contact with thedisplay unit 120 is acquired by the contact acquisition unit 152, thesecond display change of “the display position of the icon 121 is causedto move first and return” is executed while the first display change ofthe “movement of the display position of the icon 121” is suppressed.

(Summary of Second Embodiment)

In the second embodiment of the present disclosure described above, theportable terminal 100 is further provided with the contact acquisitionunit 152 which acquires a user's contact with the LCD 120, and thesuppression control unit 155 suppresses the first display change whenthe contact is acquired.

As described above, in the embodiment, the first display change is amovement of the display position of the icon 121 that is an objectincluded in an image displayed on the LCD 120. The second display changeis that the display position of the icon 121 is caused to move first andreturn.

With the configuration, for example, when a user performs a contactoperation to the icon 121 displayed on the LCD 120 of the portableterminal 100, a movement of the display position of the icon 121 byinclination of the housing 110 is suppressed. For that reason, even whenthe user who is performing the contact operation inclines the housing110 without intention, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operationresulting from the movement of the display position of the icon 121. Inaddition, it is possible to intentionally suppress a movement of thedisplay position of the icon 121 by inclination of the housing 110 in away that the user contacts an area where the background 123 is displayedand an operation instruction to the portable terminal 100 is not giveneven with a user's contact. For example, when the user changes a way ofholding the portable terminal 100, it is possible to prevent anunintended movement of the display position of the icon 121 caused byinclination of the housing 110 when the way of holding is changed, bychanging the way of holding while contacting the area where thebackground 123 is displayed.

3. Third Embodiment

Subsequently, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Furthermore, since the configuration of the portable terminal100 and the display change that the display control unit 154 bringsabout to the display screen in the third embodiment are substantiallythe same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereofwill be omitted.

(Process in Portable Terminal)

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in the portable terminal 100according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10shows a process of the portable terminal 100 according to the presentdisclosure for executing a display change and a process according toinclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisitionunit 151. In the example shown in the drawing, when the duration of auser's contact with the display unit 120 is equal to or longer than thesecond threshold value, the contact acquisition unit 152 acquires thecontact as a long-pressing operation.

First, in Step S301, the contact acquisition unit 152 determines whetheror not the continued contact of the user with the display unit 120 isdetected by the touch panel 130. When the continued contact of the userwith the display unit 120 is detected here, the process advances to StepS303. On the other hand, when the continued contact of the user with thedisplay unit 120 is not detected, the process advances to S309.

In Step S303, the inclination acquisition unit 151 records the angle ofthe inclination of the housing 110 at the time as a reference angle.

Successively in Step S305, the contact acquisition unit 152 determineswhether or not the duration of the user's contact with the display unit120 that has been detected by the touch panel 130 is equal to or longerthan the second threshold value. When the duration of the user's contactwith the display unit 120 is equal to or longer than the secondthreshold value, the process advances to Step S307. On the other hand,when the duration of the user's contact with the display unit 120 doesnot satisfy the second threshold value, the process advances to StepS309.

In Step S307, the CPU 150 executes a process corresponding to along-pressing operation of the display unit 120 acquired by the contactacquisition unit 152. The process can be a process relating to otherkinds of process that the portable terminal 100 can execute, forexample, voice calling, network communication, music and videoreproduction, capturing moving and still images, or the like, inaddition to a process of a display change by the display control unit154.

In Step S309, the suppression control unit 155 determines whether or notthe angle of the inclination of the housing 110 acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151 is equal to or smaller than the firstthreshold value. When the angle of the inclination of the housing 110 isequal to or smaller than the first threshold value, the process advancesto Step S305, and determines again whether or not the duration of theuser's contact with the display unit 120 is equal to or longer than thesecond threshold value. On the other hand, when the angle of theinclination of the housing 110 exceeds the first threshold value, theprocess advances to Step S107.

Furthermore, the process of Steps S107 to S111 is substantially the sameas the process in the first embodiment described above referring to thesame reference numerals in FIG. 4, detailed description thereof will beomitted.

In the process of the portable terminal 100, when the angle of theinclination of the housing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisitionunit 151 is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value,acquisition of the user's continued contact with the display unit 120 bythe contact acquisition unit 152 continues, and when the duration of thecontact is equal to or longer than the second threshold value, thecontact acquisition unit 152 acquires the contact as a long-pressingoperation. On the other hand, when the angle of the inclination of thehousing 110 acquired by the inclination acquisition unit 151 exceeds thefirst threshold value before the duration of the contact is equal to orlonger than the second threshold value, a process corresponding to theinclination of the housing 110 is executed. In this case, the contactthat the contact acquisition unit 152 acquires is not acquired by along-pressing operation. In other words, when the angle of theinclination of the housing 110 exceeds the first threshold value, theacquisition of the long-pressing operation by the contact acquisitionunit 152 is suppressed, instead of cancelling suppression of the“movement of the display position of the icon 121” that is the firstdisplay change.

(Summary of Third Embodiment)

In the third embodiment of the present disclosure described above, theportable terminal 100 further includes the contact acquisition unit 152which acquires contact when the duration of the user's contact with theLCD 120 is equal to or longer than the second threshold value, as along-pressing operation, and the suppression control unit 155 suppressesthe acquisition of long-pressing operation when the acquired angle ofinclination of the housing 110 exceeds the first threshold value beforethe duration of the acquired contact is equal to or longer than thesecond threshold value.

As described above, in the embodiment, the first display change is amovement of the display position of the icon 121 that is an objectincluded in the image displayed on the LCD 120.

With the configuration, for example, when the angle of the inclinationof the housing 110 exceeds a predetermined threshold value in which thedisplay position of the icon 121 starts moving before the duration ofthe user's contact operation to the icon 121 displayed on the LCD 120 ofthe portable terminal 100 exceeds the predetermined threshold value withwhich the operation is determined to be a long-pressing operation,acquisition of the user's contact operation is cancelled. For thatreason, even when the user performing a long-pressing operation for theicon 121 unintentionally inclines the housing 110, it is possible toprevent an erroneous operation caused by moving the display position ofthe icon 121.

4. Fourth Embodiment

Subsequently, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Furthermore, since the configuration of the portable terminal100 in the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as that in thefirst embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Operation of Portable Terminal)

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation example of the portableterminal 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 11 shows changes in the display position of the icon121 in the state where the housing 110 of the portable terminal 100 isnot inclined, where the angle of the inclination is an angle a when thehousing is inclined and a movement operation (flicking operation) on thetouch panel 130 is performed, and where operations of movement andinclination are ended.

The LCD 120 displays the screen of the received e-mail list. The screenof the received e-mail list includes a deletion mark 121 a for selectingan e-mail to be deleted, and a delete button 121 b. In the state wherethe housing 110 is not inclined, however, the deletion mark 121 a andthe delete button 121 b are not displayed on the LCD 120. Furthermore,the deletion mark 121 a and the delete button 121 b are objects that canbe displayed on the LCD 120 in the embodiment.

Herein, when a user inclines the housing 110 by the angle a and performsa movement operation (flicking operation) for the touch panel 130 to theright direction of the LCD 120, the screen of the received e-mail listdisplayed on the LCD 120 moves to the right side of the LCD 120, and thedeletion mark 121 a appears from the left edge of the LCD 120.

The deletion mark 121 a is displayed on the left edge of the LCD 120 ina state where the above operation is ended. The user can switch aselection state and a non-selection state of, for example, the deletionmark 121 a by contacting a portion of the deletion mark 121 a of thetouch panel 130.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the suppression control unit 155suppresses a movement of the display position of the deletion mark 121 aby the display control unit 154 when the contact acquisition unit 152does not acquire the movement operation of the user to the touch panel130 even when the inclination of the housing 110 is acquired by theinclination acquisition unit 151.

In the portable terminal 100 that operates as above, a “movement of thedisplay position of the deletion mark 121 a” that is a first displaychange that the display control unit 154 brings about to the displayimage in the embodiment is suppressed in cases other than the case wherecontact acquired by the contact acquisition unit 152 is a movementoperation (flicking operation) of the deletion mark 121 a. Furthermore,the delete button 121 b can be displayed on the LCD 120 in the samemanner as the deletion mark 121 a by inclining the housing 110 in, forexample, the opposite direction to the example shown in the drawing andperforming a movement operation through the touch panel 130.

(Summary of Fourth Embodiment)

In the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure described above, theportable terminal 100 further includes the contact acquisition unitwhich acquires a user's contact with the LCD 120 as an operationinstruction, and the suppression control unit 155 suppresses the firstdisplay change in cases other than a case where the acquired contact isa movement operation for an object.

As described above, in the embodiment, the first display change is amovement of the display position of the icon 121 that is an objectincluded in the image displayed on the LCD 120.

The configuration can be applied to, for example, a case where objectssuch as the deletion mark 121 a, the delete button 121 b of content, andthe like, an erroneous operation of which causes a significant influenceare included in the screen displayed on the LCD 120. In this case, theobjects including the deletion mark 121 a are arranged at first outsidethe area displayed on the LCD 120. When a user inclines the housing 110,and then performs a movement operation (flicking operation) through thetouch panel 130, the display position of the deletion mark 121 a ismoved and the deletion mark appears on the LCD 120. In other words, withsimple inclination of the housing 110, the display position of thedeletion mark 121 a is not moved, and the display area on the LCD 120that the user can operate does not appear. Therefore, it is possible toprevent erroneous operations caused by inclination of the housing 110that the user does not intended for the objects such as the deletionmark 121 a, an erroneous operation of which causes a significantinfluence.

5. Fifth Embodiment

Subsequently, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Furthermore, since the configuration of the portable terminal100, operations and processes relating to display in the fifthembodiment is substantially the same as those in the first embodiment,detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure described above, whenshaking of the housing 110 is acquired by the shaking acquisition unit153 of the portable terminal 100 shown in FIG. 1, the display controlunit 154 acquires the angle of the inclination of the housing 110acquired by the inclination acquisition unit 151 at that time as areference angle of the inclination of the housing 110.

With the configuration, a user can perform an operation of inclining theportable terminal 100 even when an operating posture of the user ischanged, with a reference of a state where the portable terminal 100 ispositioned in front of the user by performing an action of, for example,shaking the portable terminal 100.

6. Supplement

Hereinabove, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, but thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto. It is clear that any personwho has general knowledge in the technical field to which the presentdisclosure belongs can achieve various modified examples and amendedexamples within the category of the technical gist described in theclaims, and it is understood that the examples certainly belong to thetechnical range of the present disclosure.

For example, in each of the embodiments above, a portable terminal isdescribed as an example of an information processing device, but thepresent disclosure is not limited to the example. The informationprocessing device can be all devices, for example, a tablet PC (Personalcomputer), a portable game device, and the like, that have display unitsand a user can incline.

In addition, for example, in each of the embodiments above, a movementof the display position of an object included in an image is exemplifiedas a display change for the image displayed on a display unit, but thepresent disclosure is not limited to the example. The object, forexample, may rotate without moving the display position, or may appearor be erased without moving the display position.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2010-263408 filed in theJapan Patent Office on Nov. 26, 2010, the entire content of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:at least one processor configured to: acquire a touch input from a touchsensor of a portable terminal; acquire, from an acceleration sensor ofthe portable terminal, inclination information of the portable terminal;control a display unit of the portable terminal to display a firstobject and a second object associated with the first object; determine,based on the touch input and the inclination information, whether theportable terminal is in a first state a second state, or a third state,wherein in the first state, a duration of the touch input is lower thana time threshold value and angle of inclination of the portable terminalis lower than an angle threshold value, in the second state, theduration of the touch input is lower than the time threshold value andthe angle of inclination of the portable terminal is equal to or largerthan the angle threshold value, and in the third state, the duration ofthe touch input is equal to or larger than the time threshold value;control, based on the determination that the portable terminal is in thefirst state, the display unit to execute a first inclination process tomove a second image toward an edge of the display unit while suppressingmovement of a first image; control, based on the determination that theportable terminal is in the second state, the display unit to execute asecond inclination process to move the first image; and control, basedon the determination that the portable terminal is in the third state,the display unit to execute a long-touch process different from each ofthe first inclination process and the second inclination process.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one processor is further configured to record an angle of theportable terminal when the touch sensor detects the touch input; anddetermine, based on the touch input and the inclination information withrespect to the recorded angle, whether the portable terminal is in thefirst state, the second state, or the third state.
 3. An informationprocessing method, comprising: in a portable terminal: acquiring a touchinput from a touch sensor of the portable terminal; acquiring, from anacceleration sensor of the portable terminal, inclination information ofthe portable terminal, controlling a display unit of the portableterminal to display a first object and a second object associated withthe first object; determining, based on the touch input and theinclination information, whether the portable terminal is in a firststate, a second state, or a third state, wherein in the first state, aduration of the touch input is lower than a time threshold value andangle of inclination of the portable terminal is lower than an anglethreshold value, in the second state, the duration of the touch input islower than the time threshold value and the angle of inclination of theportable terminal is equal to or larger than the angle threshold value,and in the third state, the duration of the touch input is equal to orlarger than the time threshold value; controlling, based on thedetermination that the portable terminal is in the first state, thedisplay unit to execute a first inclination process to move a secondimage toward an edge of the display unit while suppressing movement of afirst image; controlling, based on the determination that the portableterminal is in the second state, the display unit to execute a secondinclination process to move the first image; and controlling, based onthe determination that the portable terminal is in the third state, thedisplay unit to execute a long-touch process different from each of thefirst inclination process and the second inclination process.
 4. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereoncomputer-executable instructions which, when executed by a portableterminal, cause the portable terminal to execute operations, theoperations comprising: acquiring a touch input from a touch sensor ofthe portable terminal; acquiring, from an acceleration sensor of theportable terminal, inclination information of the portable terminal,controlling a display unit of the portable terminal to display a firstobject and a second object associated with the first object;determining, based on the touch input and the inclination information,whether the portable terminal is in a first state, a second state, or athird state, wherein in the first state, a duration of the touch inputis lower than a time threshold value and angle of inclination of theportable terminal is lower than an angle threshold value, in the secondstate, the duration of the touch input is lower than the time thresholdvalue and the angle of inclination of the portable terminal is equal toor larger than the angle threshold value, and in the third state, theduration of the touch input is equal to or larger than the timethreshold value; controlling, based on the determination that theportable terminal is in the first state, the display unit to execute afirst inclination process to move a second image toward an edge of thedisplay unit while suppressing movement of a first image; controlling,based on the determination that the portable terminal is in the secondstate, the display unit to execute a second inclination process to movethe first image; and controlling, based on the determination that theportable terminal is in the third state, the display unit to execute along-touch process different from each of the first inclination processand the second inclination process.